Safety's Off

Are you a Facebook nut? Unsatisfied with the lackluster video game applications available on the popular social networking site? Raptr is the solution, and no I’m not spelling that wrong. Raptr is a new Facebook-like service that enables gamers around the world to connect with each other on a unified networking system that spans across multiple gaming platforms. Currently, the service is in beta form, but the site is looking sharp, sporting an impressive feature set that allows you to publish or track your gaming stats with ease. Some of my favorite features include the time logs, which let the world (and yourself) know just how much time you spend playing Resident Evil 5 or Left 4 Dead. Interested? Read on.

Some of the more impressive, Facebook-like features stem from the compatibility systems in place, which attempt to pair you up with other gamers who have similar tastes in games. Each individual profile is rated relative to you, taking into account things like achievement scores and games, which gives the service a unique twist that other wannabe gamer networks have failed to really implement. Daily updates and constant status changes make the process mostly automated and painless, which adds to the appeal of Raptr. A lot of this stems from the intuitive interface, which feels like Facebook’s user-friendly environment and behaves like it as well. That’s a compliment, by the way.

The Raptr profile page.

Tying the whole thing together is the well-designed Raptr client, which is a free download that automatically scans your computer for installed games to upload to your profile. Again, the automated process keeps things insanely easy, and building your profile takes all of about 10 minutes of your free time. The downloadable program also acts as a friends list, and if you’re familiar with Xfire, Raptr is about what you’d expect. Although I’m not exactly sure if there is support for joining PC games via the client (although if there isn’t already, there should be in the future), there are free games available in the “Arcade” tab. Raptr also keeps all your games in one organized place, and are only a click away. Rather than hunt down your .exe for WoW, you can simply have Raptr load on startup, then boot it up straight from the client. The whole process is something that most other clients haven’t done with this level of simplicity and effectiveness. The stats aspect is also carried into Raptr, displaying useful information on the games you own, such as how many players are currently enjoying CS: Source (that use the Raptr client anyways) and what the usernames of those players are. Perhaps one of the best features of the client however, is the built-in file downloader, which claims to automatically download the latest patches and files that you request it to. In addition to that, there’s the obvious inclusion of an instant messaging system across the client users, which is just the cherry on top.

That being said, there are a few issues I take up with Raptr, most of them stemming with the site’s lack of design options. The customization is there, but it’s not entirely fleshed out yet. There are a few themes (which will probably get more plentiful as the service works out of beta) and simply not enough gadgets to add to your profile. The Xbox LIVE gamercard and other standard assorted goodies are included, but there is a ton of potential in this area. Should Raptr implement an online database similar to the gadget database on Google’s Blogger service or Apple’s App Store, Raptr could explode onto the networking scene with full force. Open up the API to allow developers to design their own gadgets to add to users’ profiles, and suddenly you have a never-ending site functionality that allows individual customization without the ugly side effects of clutter and slowdown. Fundamentally, however, Raptr is incredibly solid for how early it is in its lifecycle, and the feature set only looks to continue building.

This would all be a humongous waste of time if the site was ugly, and fortunately, Raptr is anything but. The design team has done a fantastic job of creating an original layout that is both intuitive and pretty, which makes navigation fun and stress-free. Although it takes awhile to fully learn the site, discovering the little nooks and crannies is rewarding in and of itself. Just recently I was thinking about how Raptr needed to implement Twitter or Facebook support, and through a little exploration, I discovered these exact features in the account settings page under the “sharing” tab. Things like this make users understand the face value of the page while at the same time providing “depth” for the user to explore. Essentially, the service is like a good, accessible video game: easy enough to learn and explore, but deep enough to “master” and understand. Raptr is a smartly designed site with enough functionality on the surface to entice new users, yet enough features to keep them.

In its current beta stage, Raptr is shaping up to be a stellar networking service. To have discovered it relatively early has been a treat for me, and the only real problem is that not enough gamers use it yet so it’s hard to use the clever networking features available. I highly recommend at least registering for the site and giving the features a go, because once you realize the potential Raptr has, you’ll begin to spread the word just as I have. Give it a look, and be sure to add me as a friend!

-Adriaan Noordzij